User interface system

ABSTRACT

A user interface system for a device that includes a first deformable layer that with a first sheet that defines a first surface, a first fluid vessel arranged underneath the first surface, and a first volume of fluid contained within the first fluid vessel that is manipulated to deform a first particular region of the first surface to receive a user input; a second deformable layer with a second sheet that defines a second surface, a second fluid vessel arranged underneath the second surface, and a second volume of fluid contained within the second fluid vessel that is manipulated to deform a second particular region of the second surface to change the shape of the device; and a displacement device a displacement device coupled to at least one of the first and second fluid vessels and configured to manipulate the volumes of fluid to deform particular regions of the surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/046,467, filed 11 Mar. 2011, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/313,054, filed on 11 Mar. 2010, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/313,064, filed 11 Mar. 2010, which are incorporated in their entirety by this reference.

This application is related to U.S. application Ser. No. 11/969,848 filed on 4 Jan. 2008 and entitled “System and Method for Raised Touch Screens”, U.S. application Ser. No. 12/319,334 filed on 5 Jan. 2009 and entitled “User Interface System”, U.S. application Ser. No. 12/652,708 entitled “User Interface System” filed on 5 Jan. 2010, and U.S. application Ser. No. 12/652,704 entitled “User Interface System” filed on 5 Jan. 2010, which are all incorporated in their entirety by this reference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the system of the preferred embodiments as applied to a device.

FIGS. 2, 3 a, 3 b, and 4 are schematic representations of variations of the first and second deformable layers of the user interface system.

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a variation of the arrangement of the first and second deformable layers of the user interface system.

FIGS. 6, 7, 8 a, 8 b, 9 a, 9 b, boa and bob are schematic representations of variations of the deformation of the second deformable layer when applied to a device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention is not intended to limit the invention to these preferred embodiments, but rather to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use this invention.

The System of the Preferred Embodiments

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the user interface system boo of the preferred embodiments comprises a first deformable layer 200 that includes a first sheet 202 that defines a first surface 215, a first fluid vessel 227 arranged underneath the first surface, and a first volume of fluid 212 contained within the first fluid vessel 227 that is manipulated to deform a first particular region 213 of the first surface 215 to receive a user input; a second deformable layer 300 that includes a second sheet 302 that defines a second surface 315, and a second volume of fluid 312 contained within the second fluid vessel 327 that is manipulated to deform a second particular region 313 of the second surface 315 to change the shape of the device; and a displacement device 130 coupled to at least one of the first and second fluid vessels 227 and 327 and configured to manipulate at least one of the first and second volumes of fluid 212 and 312, thereby deforming at least one of the first and second particular regions 213 and 313.

The user interface system 100 is preferably applied to a device 10 (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5-10). The first deformable layer 200 preferably functions as the touch interface system that is applied to the device 10 where tactile guidance is to be provided to the user, such as a touch sensitive display, any other type of sensor or display, or any other suitable device as described in U.S. application Ser. No. 11/969,848 filed on 4 Jan. 2008 and entitled “System and Method for Raised Touch Screens”, and U.S. application Ser. No. 12/319,334 filed on 5 Jan. 2009 and entitled “User Interface System,” and the second deformable layer 300 preferably functions as an accessory interface system that provides any other suitable tactile experience related to the device 10. For example, the second deformable layer 300 may function to provide information to the user such as a tactile communication to the user to indicate the occurrence of an event or a tactile locator for a feature of the device (such as the speaker or the volume button as shown in FIG. 6); to provide protection for the device (such as a bumper to protect the device or “feet” that support the device when placed on a surface, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8); to change the orientation of the device (such as when the device is placed on an unlevel surface, as shown in FIG. 9); to provide a visual aesthetic (such as to provide a decoration on the device 10 or to provide an aesthetic enhancement to the logo of the company manufacturing and/or designing the device 10, as shown in FIG. 10); or any other suitable tactile experience related to the device 10. The device 10 is preferably an electronic device such as a cellular phone, a media player, a laptop, a computer, a camera, television, automated teller machine, or any other suitable device. Alternatively, the device 10 may be an interface component of a larger device, for example, the steering wheel of a vehicle or the center control console of a vehicle. However, the device 10 may be any other suitable device.

The first and second deformable layers may be arranged in any suitable arrangement along the surfaces of the device 10. For example, the first deformable layer 200 may be arranged on the main touch interface surface of the device 10 while the second deformable layer 300 is arranged on a side face of the device 10 and/or on a face opposite the main touch interface surface where a volume button, camera button, an on/off button, a ringer on/off switch, or any other suitable feature may be located, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7. Alternatively, the second deformable layer may be located on the same face as the first deformable layer, for example, the second deformable layer may be located along the perimeter of the first deformable layer as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8 or exterior to one edge of the first deformable layer, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, or in any other suitable arrangement. Alternatively, the first and second deformable layers 200 and 300 may both be of the touch interface system as described in U.S. application Ser. No. 11/969,848 filed on 4 Jan. 2008 and entitled “System and Method for Raised Touch Screens”, and U.S. application Ser. No. 12/319,334 filed on 5 Jan. 2009 and entitled “User Interface System,” The first and second deformable layers 200 and 300 may be applied to the same display and/or touch sensitive display, but may also be applied to devices 10 that include two displays and/or touch sensitive displays (for example, dual screen laptops, or handheld game consoles). However, the first and second deformable layers 200 and 300 may be any other suitable type of system.

The first and second deformable layers are preferably structurally similar. In particular, the first and second sheets 202 and 302 are preferably substantially identical. Each of the first and second sheets 202 and 302 may include a first and second layer portion 210 and 310, respectively, that are substantially similar, and a first and second substrate portion 220 and 320, respectively, that are substantially similar. The first and second layer portions 210 and 310 preferably define the first and second surfaces 215 and 315, respectively, and are preferably of the type as described in U.S. application Ser. No. 12/319,334 filed on 5 Jan. 2009 and entitled “User Interface System.” The first and second substrate portions 220 and 320 preferably support the first and second layers 210 and 310, respectively, and at least partially define the first and second fluid vessels 227 and 327, respectively, that are substantially similar and of the type as described in U.S. application Ser. No. 12/319,334 filed on 5 Jan. 2009 and entitled “User Interface System.” The first and second fluid vessels 227 and 327 may include a first and second cavity 225 and 325, respectively, and/or a first and second channel 238 and 338, respectively, but may alternatively include any other suitable combination of cavities and channels. Alternatively, the first and second sheets 202 and 302 may alternatively be substantially different. For example, the first sheet 202 may include a first layer portion 210 and a first substrate portion 220 of the type described in U.S. application Ser. No. 12/319,334 filed on 5 Jan. 2009 and entitled “User Interface System,” while the second sheet 302 may be a substantially continuous sheet that defines the second surface 315 and the second fluid vessel 327. However, any other suitable arrangement of the first and second sheets 202 and 302 may be used.

The displacement device 130 functions to manipulate at least one of the first and second volumes of fluid 202 and 302, thereby deforming at least one of the first and second particular regions 213 and 313 and is preferably of a type as described in U.S. application Ser. No. 12/319,334 filed on 5 Jan. 2009 and entitled “User Interface System,” but may alternatively be any other suitable type of displacement device. The displacement device 130 is preferably coupled to at least one of the first fluid vessel 227 and 327 and functions to manipulate the volume of fluid within the coupled fluid vessel to expand at least a portion of the fluid vessel to deform a corresponding particular region. The displacement device 130 preferably subsequently manipulates the volume of fluid within the coupled fluid vessel to un-deform the corresponding particular region.

In a first variation of user interface system 100, as shown in FIG. 2, the first deformable layer is separate from the second deformable layer, where the displacement device includes a first displacement device 130 a that is coupled to the first fluid vessel 227 of the first deformable layer 200 and functions to manipulate the first volume of fluid 212 to deform a first particular region 213 of the first surface 215 and a second displacement device 130 b that is coupled to the second fluid vessel 327 of the second deformable layer 300 and functions to manipulate the second volume of fluid 312 to deform a second particular region 313 of the second surface 315. A processing unit preferably controls both the displacement devices 130 a and 130 b of the first variation to manipulate the first and second volumes of fluid 212 and 312 independently of each other.

In a second variation of the user interface system 100, as shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b , the first and second deformable layers 200 and 300 are connected and the first and second deformable layers 200 and 300 share a displacement device 130. In particular, the first and second fluid vessels 227 and 327 are both coupled to the displacement device 130. In the example as shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b , the first and second layer portions 210 and 310 and the first and second substrate portions 220 and 320 are substantially continuous. In this second variation, the surface 115 may be planar (shown in FIG. 3a ), but may alternatively be non-planar (shown in FIG. 3b ). This may be useful in usage scenarios where the device has more than one face where tactile guidance is desired. To provide tactile guidance on more than one face of a device 10, as shown in FIG. 1, in the first variation of the user interface system 100, the first surface 215 may be arranged on a first face of the device and the second surface 315 may be arranged on a second face of the device. In the second variation of the user interface system 100, as shown in FIG. 3b , the connected first and second deformable layers 200 and 300 may be wrapped around the device to reach more than one face. The second variation may allow fewer parts and more cost effective manufacturing. A processing unit preferably controls the displacement device 130 to manipulate the first and second volumes of fluid 212 and 312 independently of each other. The user interface system 100 of this second variation may include a valve 132 or any other suitable fluid directing component may also be used to direct fluid displaced by the displacement device 130 to the desired fluid vessel or vessels.

In a third variation of the user interface system 100, as shown in FIG. 4, the first and second deformable layers 200 and 300 are physically separated, but still share a displacement device 130. This allows for one displacement device to actuate the expansion and retraction of both the first and second fluid vessels 227 and 327 of the first and second deformable layers, respectively while allowing additional flexibility in characteristics and arrangement of the first and second deformable layers. A processing unit preferably controls the displacement device 130 to manipulate the first and second volumes of fluid 212 and 312 independently of each other. The user interface system 100 of this second variation may include a valve 132 or any other suitable fluid directing component may also be used to direct fluid displaced by the displacement device 130 to the desired fluid vessel or vessels. In this third variation, the first and second deformable layers 200 and 300 may be combined to function similarly to the second variation where the first and second deformable layers 200 and 300 are connected. However, any other suitable arrangement of the first and second deformable layers 200 and 300 may be used.

While the user interface system 100 of the preferred embodiments is preferably one of the above mentioned variations, the user interface system 100 may be of any suitable combination of the above variations and/or any other suitable variation.

In the first and third variations, the first deformable layer 200 and the second deformable layer 300 are preferably identical. For example, the first layer 210, first substrate 220, first fluid vessel 227, and the displacement device 130 a of the first deformable layer are each substantially similar or identical to the corresponding second layer 310, second substrate 320, second fluid vessel 327, and the displacement device 130 b of the second deformable layer. The corresponding components in the first and second deformable layers may be substantially similar or include slightly different properties that allow each portion to better provide the desired performance of each portion. For example, the first layer 210 of the first deformable layer functions to provide substantially rectangular deformed first particular region 213 of the first surface 215 and/or buttons that provide a “clicking” sensation to the user when the user inwardly deforms the deformed first particular region 213, while the second deformable layer functions to provide a relatively smaller, substantially round deformed second particular region 313 of the second surface 315 that may be used to indicate the location of a volume button and does not need to be inwardly deformed by the user. A “clicking” sensation may be further defined as a binary button that transitions between an unactuated button and an actuated button, for example, as seen in a key on a typical keyboard. Alternatively, the deformed first particular region 213 of the first surface 213 may provide a substantially linear response to a user when the user inwardly deforms the deformed first particular region 213 or any other suitable type of sensation as described in U.S. application Ser. No. 12/652,708, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by this reference. In this example, the second fluid vessel 327 may be relatively smaller than the first fluid vessel 227 and the layer 310 may have a simpler geometry than the layer 210, which may have geometrical features built in to allow for inward deformation of the deformed second particular region 313 and/or provide the “clicking” sensation to the user. The layer 210 and the layer 310 may also be of materials with different stiffness and/or thickness. In a second example, the first surface 215 may also include a different texture than the second surface 315, which allows the user to distinguish between the first and second deformable layers by the tactile sensation provided by the surface. However, the corresponding components between the first and second deformable layers may be of any other suitable variation.

Similarly, the first and second deformable layers of the second variation may also include variations. For example, the second surface 315 of second deformable layer may include a coating that changes the texture of the second surface 315 relative to the first surface 215 the first deformable layer. The sizes of the first fluid vessel 227 and second fluid vessel 327 may also be different. Additionally, the geometry of the first layer portion 210 of the first deformable layer may include geometrical features or any other suitable features that are different from the geometry of the second layer portion 310 of the second deformable layer to deliver different tactile experiences between the first and second deformable layers, including, for example, the devices and techniques described in U.S. application Ser. No. 12/652,708 entitled “User Interface System” filed on 5 Jan. 2010, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by this reference. Alternatively, the first and second deformable layers 200 and 300 may include different visual properties, for example, one may be substantially transparent while the other substantially opaque. However, any other suitable variation within portions of the first and second layer portions 210 and 310 and the first and second substrate portions 220 and 320 and the first fluid vessel 227 and second fluid vessel 327 may be used.

As mentioned above, in a variation of the user interface system 100, the first deformable layer preferably functions as the touch interface system that is applied to a touch sensitive display or any other type of touch sensor or display that may be included in the device 10 and the second deformable layer preferably functions as an accessory interface system that provides any other suitable tactile experience related to the device 10. In a first variation, the second deformable layer 300 may function to provide information to the user such as a tactile communication to the user, for a example, a tactile communication to indicate the occurrence of an event or a tactile locator for a feature of the device (such as the speaker or the volume button as shown in FIG. 6). In a second variation, the second deformable layer 300 may function to provide protection for the device, for example, a bumper to protect the device or “feet” or risers that support the device when placed on a surface, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In a third variation, the second deformable layer 300 may function to change the orientation of the device, for example, when the device is placed on an unlevel surface, as shown in FIG. 9. This may be particular useful in the variation where the device is a projector and the second deformable layer 300 may change the orientation of the device to affect the resulting projected image. In a fourth variation, the second deformable layer 300 may function to provide a visual aesthetic, for example, to provide a decoration on the device 10 or to provide an aesthetic enhancement to the logo of the company manufacturing and/or designing the device 10, as shown in FIG. 10. In a second example of a visual aesthetic, the fluid 312 of the second deformable layer 300 may be of a different color such that the deformed particular region 313 of the second deformable layer 300 may include a different color. However, any other suitable tactile experience related to the device 10 may be provided by the second deformable layer 300.

In the first variation, the second deformable layer 300 functions to provide information to the user. In a first example, the second deformable layer 300 may provide a tactile communication to the user to indicate the occurrence of an event. The displacement device 130 may function to expand and retract the second fluid vessel 327 in a pulsating fashion to provide a tactile pulse to indicate the occurrence of an event. The pulse may vary the stiffness, height, or any other suitable tactilely distinguishable property of the deformed particular region 313. In this variation, the second deformable layer 300 may be located along a side face of the device 10 (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7). The fluid vessel 327 may include a plurality of cavities 325 that the displacement device 130 expands concurrently or in a certain sequence, using, for example, the devices and techniques described in U.S. application Ser. No. 12/652,704 entitled “User Interface System” filed on 5 Jan. 2010. By expanding the plurality of cavities 325 in a certain sequence, a certain type of pulsating pattern may be exhibited on the second deformable layer 300, for example, if adjacent cavities 325 are expanded one after the other, a ripple effect or a wave may be exhibited on the surface 115 of the second deformable layer 300. Alternatively, if cavities 325 located substantially apart from each other are expanded one after another, a “boiling water” effect may be exhibited on the surface 115 of the second deformable layer 300. However, any other suitable sequence of expansion of the cavities 325 to allow the surface 115 of the second deformable layer 300 to exhibit any suitable effect may be used. The sequence of expansion may be selected by the user or may alternatively be pre-programmed by the manufacturer or an application of the device. In the substantially rectangular prism type geometry of the device 10, as shown in the FIGURES, the second deformable layer 300 may be also located along all four side faces of the rectangular prism geometry to provide tactile communication along all sides faces of the device 10. Alternatively, the second deformable layer 300 may be placed on the front main face and/or the back main face opposite the front main face of the device 10. The displacement device 130 may alternatively function to only expand or only retract the second fluid vessel 327 to communicate the occurrence of an event. For example, a second fluid vessel 327 may include a single cavity 325 that may be expanded to indicate to the user the occurrence of an event, or, a pattern of cavities 325 may be expanded. The pattern of cavities 325 may indicate the type of message, for example, a triangle may indicate a text message while a square may indicate an email. The pattern of cavities 325 may also spell out a word to indicate the event or the contents of an event such as a text message. In another example, the second deformable layer 300 may function to inform the user regarding the state of the device. For example, the device may “go to sleep” after a period of no use. When the user picks the device up again, a processor may detect the movement of the device (for example, through an accelerometer), and the second deformable layer 300 may deform a particular region to indicate that the device is “awake” and ready to receive a user command. However, any other suitable arrangement or tactile communication may be provided by the second deformable layer 300, for example, a particular region may be deformed and maintained in the deformed state substantially statically to indicate to the user the occurrence of an event.

In a second example of the first variation, the second deformable layer 300 functions to provide a tactile locator for a feature of the device, as shown in FIG. 6. The second deformable layer 300 preferably provides the tactile locator when the device 10 is performing a related task. In the variation of the device 10 that is a phone, if the user indicates that he or she desires to make a phone call, the displacement device 130 may expand a second fluid vessel 327 of the second deformable layer 300 that is located in relative close proximity or adjacent to the ear speaker of the device 10, indicating to the user where to locate the device relative to his/her ear. In this variation, the deformed particular region 313 may be of a shape that is customized to the shape of the ear of the user to increase the potential comfort of placing the device 10 by the user's ear. However, any other suitable shape of the deformed particular region 313 may be used. In the variation of the device that includes a media player, when the user initiates playback of music and/or video, the displacement device 130 may deform a cavity 325 of the second fluid vessel 327 of the second deformable layer 300 that is located in relative close proximity or adjacent to the volume button and/or the play/pause button. This may also be applicable to when the user is making a phone call on the phone variation of the device 10. Because the handset will be by the user's ear and not easily visible, a tactile locator for the volume button may be useful to allow the user to easily adjust the volume of the call. However, any other arrangement or function of the second deformable layer 300 to provide tactile locating features may be used.

In a second variation, the second deformable layer 300 may function to provide protection for the device, for example, from falling or from scratching. In a first example, the second deformable layer 300 may function to deform the second particular region 313 to form a bumper, as shown in FIG. 7, that functions to protect a face of the device from, for example, a fall. In this example, a processor may function to detect the acceleration of the device (for example, through accelerometer), and based on the detected acceleration, the processor may actuate the deformation of the particular region 313 to form a bumper. In this example, the processor may also detect the face of the device 10 that is closest to impact upon the fall and function to actuate the deformation of the particular region 313 that is substantially proximal to the predicted face of impact. This allows the fluid manipulation performed by the displacement device 130 to be allocated to a particular face with a higher chance of damage. In variations of the displacement device 130 where the volume of fluid displaced per unit time is not high enough to form bumpers on all the possible faces of the device 10 in time to protect the device 10 upon impact, allocation of the fluid manipulation to create a bumper on the face of impact may increase the effectiveness of a bumper that is located at the face of impact. However, any other suitable arrangement of the bumper may be used.

In a second example of the second variation, the second deformable layer 300 may function to put distance between the device 10 and an external surface and/or object, for example, to provide feet or risers that prop the device away from a surface that the device 10 may be placed on, as shown in FIGS. 8a and 8b , to help prevent scratching of the device, in particular, the main face of the device 10 that may include the touch sensitive display. In this example, the second deformable layer 300 may be located on the same face of the device 10 as the first deformable layer because the first deformable layer may be associated with the touch sensitive display. When the device 10 senses that the device is placed on a surface (through accelerometers, proximity sensors such as infrared sensors, or any other suitable sensor), the displacement device 130 may expand a plurality of cavities of the second deformable layer 300 along the face of the device 10 facing the surface to be used as “feet” or risers to prop up the device 10. Alternatively, the second deformable layer 300 of this variation may also be used to put distance between a user and the device 10, for example, to protect a user from the device. In particular, a device may emit radiation and the deformed particular region 313 functions to maintain a particular distance between the device 10 and the user. In another example, if the device 10 is emitting heat, the second deformed particular region 313 may function to put distance between the user and the device 10 to substantially prevent the user from being injured by the heat of the device 10. Alternatively, the user or an application of the device may actuate the employment of the second deformable layer 300. However, any other method may be used to employ the second deformable layer 300 to maintain a distance between the device 10 and a surface, user, and/or any other suitable type of object. In this example, the second deformable layer may be integrated into the first deformable layer, for example, cavities 225 that belong to the first deformable layer may be alternatively be used as “feet” to prop up the device. The second deformable layer may also be located on a face opposite of the main face of the device 10 that may include the touch sensitive display and may be used to stabilize the device 10 as the user applies pressure on the main face and/or touch sensitive display. However, any other suitable arrangement of the second deformable layer 300 may be used.

In a third variation, the second deformable layer 300 may function to change the orientation of the device 10, as shown in FIGS. 9a and 9b . This variation may be thought of as similar the second example of the second variation where “feet” are employed to lift the device 10. In this third variation, the “feet” are used to change the orientation of the device, preferably relative to a surface, for example, when the surface is not flat. The “feet” provided by the second deformable layer and/or the first deformable layer may also be used to level the device to a desired angle. For example, in devices that include image projection functionality, the “feet” may be used align the device as desired by the user. In another example, in the device 10 may include a touch sensitive display that displays a keyboard and the “feet” may be used to orient the device 10 at the desired angle for typing on the touch sensitive display. However, the second deformable layer may provide any other suitable physical feature.

In a fourth variation, the second deformable layer 300 may function to provide a visual aesthetic, as shown in FIG. 10. The second deformable layer 300 may include a plurality of cavities 325 and may function to expand a pattern of cavities 325 to add a certain aesthetic detail to the device 10. The second deformable layer 300 may also function to pulsate the pattern of cavities 325 to add a pulsating aesthetic to the decoration and/or the logo of the company manufacturing the device 10. For example, the company logo of a laptop in standby mode may pulsate. The particular decoration to be exhibited may be selected by the user. Alternatively, a processor may detect the presence of the hand of a user (for example, with a proximity sensor such as an infrared sensor) and employ the decoration. However, any other suitable method to employ the second deformable layer 300 may be used. The decoration may be of any suitable decoration, for example, a shape, the profile of an animal, the user's name, or a message.

The second deformable layer 300 of the user interface 100 may be used to provide any other suitable tactile experience to the user. A light source may also be coupled to the user interface system 100 to augment the experience provided by the device. For example, in the first example of the second deformable layer 300 providing a tactile communication to the user, a set of light sources may be integrated to provide light in phase with the pulsation of the expansion and retraction of the second fluid vessel 327. Alternatively, the fluid 312 of the second deformable layer 300 may function to direct light through the second deformable layer 300 such that the effect of light aimed through the fluid vessel of the second deformable layer 300 may be affected by the arrangement of fluid within the fluid vessel. However, any other suitable experience may be provided to the user of the device 10, for example, a vibration motor may be coupled to the user interface system 100 to provide vibration along with the expansion/retraction of the second fluid vessel 327. The user interface system 100 of the preferred embodiments may alternatively be applied to any other suitable device, for example, the device may be a musical instrument where the deformed particular region 313 of the second deformable layer 300 functions to affect the passage of air or any other suitable type of fluid through the instrument to affect the musical qualities of the instrument. Alternatively, the deformed particular region 313 may come into contact with a string of a stringed instrument and affect the vibration of the string. However, any other suitable application of the user interface system 100 may be used.

The Method of the Preferred Embodiments

As shown in FIGS. 7-9, the method S100 of the preferred embodiments preferably includes providing a first deformable layer Step S200 that defines a first surface and a first fluid vessel that contains a first volume of fluid, providing a second deformable layer Step S300 that defines a second surface and a second fluid vessel that contains a second volume of fluid, selectively deforming at least one of the first and second surfaces Step S110, wherein selectively deforming at least one of the first and second surfaces includes at least one of: manipulating the first volume of fluid to deform a first particular region of the first surface into a tactilely distinguishable formation of a first type Step S210 and manipulating the second volume of fluid to deform a second particular region on the second surface into a tactilely distinguishable formation of a second type that substantially changes the shape of the device Step S310. As described above, the step of manipulating the first volume of fluid preferably includes configuring the first type of tactilely distinguishable formation to receive a user input Step S120. However, the first type of tactilely distinguishable formation may function to provide any other suitable function to the device.

In a first variation of the step of manipulating the second volume of fluid, the second volume of fluid is manipulated to configure the second type of tactilely distinguishable formation to provide information to the user Step S320. In a first example, the information may include alerting the user regarding the operation of the device Step S322, for example, in the variation of the device 10 that receives messages, such as a mobile phone, the second volume of fluid may be manipulated to alert the user on a received message. In a second example of the first variation, the information may include indicating the location of a particular feature of the device Step S324, for example, the location of the speaker on a device 10 that is a mobile phone. However, the second type of tactilely distinguishable formation may provide any other suitable type of information.

In a second variation of the step of manipulating the second volume of fluid, the second volume of fluid is manipulated to configure the second type of tactilely distinguishable formation to provide protection for the device Step S330, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In a first example, the second type of tactilely distinguishable formation is configured to provide a bumper for the device, as shown in FIG. 7. In this first example, the method S100 of the preferred embodiments preferably includes the step of detecting the acceleration of the device S111 and providing a bumper for the device when the acceleration of the device is detected to be above a threshold that may indicate that the device is falling Step S332. This variation may also include the step of predicting the face of the device closest to the potential impact Step S112 and providing a bumper for the face of the predicted face of impact Step S334. In a second example of the second variation, the second type of tactilely distinguishable formation is configured to provide “feet” or risers for the device, as shown in FIG. 8. In this example, the method S100 of the preferred embodiments preferably includes the step of detecting the proximity of a face of the device to an external surface Step S120 and providing a bumper for surface detected to be in substantial proximity to an external surface Step S336. However, any other suitable protection may be provided to the device by the second type of tactilely distinguishable formation.

In a third variation of the step of manipulating the second volume of fluid, the second volume of fluid is manipulated to configure the second type of tactilely distinguishable formation to change the orientation of the device Step S340, as shown in FIG. 9. In this variation, the method S100 of the preferred embodiments preferably includes the step of detecting the orientation of the device Step S130, for example, the angle of the device relative to the ground, a surface, or any other suitable reference. In the example as shown in FIG. 9, the second type of tactilely distinguishable formation of the third variation may be arranged similar to the “feet′ of the second variation where a portion is located on one side of a face of the device and another portion is located on another side of a face of the device, preferably opposite of the first portion and both portions preferably are in contact with an external surface. The external surface may be an irregular surface, such as those seen on rocks, or may be a substantially planar surface, such as a table, but may alternatively be any other suitable type of surface. The fluid is preferably manipulated to deform the portions of the tactilely distinguishable formation in substantially different degrees to substantially affect the orientation of the device, for example, one portion will be deformed to a higher degree than another to raise the corresponding side of the face and change the orientation of the device. However, any other suitable arrangement of the second tactilely distinguishable formation of the third variation may be used.

In a fourth variation of the step of manipulating the second volume of fluid, the second volume of fluid is manipulated to configure the second type of tactilely distinguishable formation to provide an aesthetic feature to the device, as shown in FIG. 10. This variation of the method S100 may include actuating the aesthetic feature at a desired time. In a first example, the aesthetic feature may be activated at a preprogrammed time, for example, every five minutes, whenever the device is turned on and/or off, when a function of the device is turned on and/or off, or any other suitable time. The preprogrammed time may be preset by a manufacturer, but may alternatively be set by the user. Alternatively, the aesthetic feature may be activated on a case by case basis, for example, when the user selects to activate the feature or when an event occurs. However, any other suitable activation of the aesthetic feature may be used.

“A channel 138 couples a first group of cavities 325 and a second group of cavities 325 to the displacement device 130. The first and second groups of cavities 325 are preferably not directly connected to each other. The channel 138 preferably forms a T-junction between the displacement device 130 and the two groups of cavities 325, and the channel preferably includes a valve 132 at the T-junction to direct fluid displaced by the displacement device 130 to one or both of the groups of cavities 325. However, the channel 138 may be of any other suitable orientation. The valve 132 is preferably of the type described above in the second preferred embodiment. In a variation where one cavity 325 may belong to more than one group of cavities 325, for example, as shown in FIG. 17 where a first group of cavities 325 that correlate to a landscape QWERTY keyboard and a second group of cavities 325 that correlate to a portrait QWERTY cavity 325 group share cavities 325. The shared cavities 325 may be thought of as a third group of cavities 325 that cooperates with the first group of cavities 325 to correlate to a landscape QWERTY keyboard and cooperates with the second group of cavities 325 to correlate to a portrait QWERTY keyboard. In this variation, each of the shared cavities 325 may be coupled to more than one channel 138, as shown in FIG. 18. This allows expansion of each shared cavity 325 when any of the displacement devices 130 pertaining to each of the groups to which the cavity 325 belongs is activated. To regulate the expansion of the cavity 325, the cavity 325 may include a valve of a type described above for valve 132 that prevents fluid from a first channel 238 belonging to a first group to flow through the cavity 325 to a second channel 338 belonging to a second group. The valve may also be used to prevent fluid from more than one channel 138 to expand the cavity 325, which may potentially cause the over-expansion of the cavity 325. However, any other suitable arrangement of a cavity 325 that may belong to more than one group may be used.”

As a person skilled in the art will recognize from the previous detailed description and from the figures and claims, modifications and changes can be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of this invention defined in the following claims. 

We claim:
 1. A user interface system for a device, comprising: a first deformable layer that includes a first sheet that defines a first surface, a first fluid vessel arranged underneath the first surface, and a first volume of fluid contained within the first fluid vessel that is manipulated to deform a first particular region of the first surface to receive a user input; a second deformable layer that includes a second sheet that defines a second surface, a second fluid vessel arranged underneath the second surface, and a second volume of fluid contained within the second fluid vessel that is manipulated to deform a second particular region of the second surface to change the shape of the device; and a displacement device coupled to the first and second fluid vessels and configured to selectively manipulate at least one of the first and second volumes of fluid, thereby deforming at least one of the first and second particular regions. 